ResultsMANHATTAN, Kan. – K-State Track and Field wrapped up its home slate today with the Wildcat Open. Their final meet before the Big 12 Championships, the Wildcats’ effort was highlighted by personal best performances from Erica Twiss in the long jump and Kristen Petry in the pole vault.

Twiss Takes First in the Long Jump

Erica Twiss finished the home stretch on a high note with a first-place finish in the long jump. The senior bested a field of eight athletes, leaping a career best 6.37m/20-10.75. Twiss’ mark bested her previous high of 6.16m/20-02.50 set at this year’s Drake Relays, as well as moved her to No. 3 all-time in K-State history. It was the best mark in the event by a K-State athlete since Nina Kokot tied a school record jump of 6.38m/20-11.25 at the 2011 NCAA Championships.

For Twiss, it is her second win in the event this season, as well as the second time she has registered a long jump personal best. She has set personal bests in four total events this season – 200 meter dash, 100 meter hurdles, 400H and long jump – with each PR, except for the 200 meter, ranking with within its respective top-five in school history. Twiss’ latest effort has her now ranked second-best in the Big 12, third-best in the Division I West Region and No. 9 in DI.

Petry Cracks the Top-10

Kristen Petry put in a career best effort in the women’s pole vault, finishing fourth with a height cleared of 3.50m/11-05.75. The Satellite Beach, Florida, native moved into the No. 10 spot in K-State history with her mark, becoming the first women’s pole vaulter since Meriel Harwood in 2011 to crack the event’s top-10. Petry’s performance was her best to date this outdoor season and eclipsed her previous career high height of 3.45m/11-03.75 set this indoor season at the K-State Invitational.

Odds n’ Ends

• Freshman Rhys Powell took first in the men’s 400 meter dash in a season best time of 49.11 seconds. For Powell, it is his first career win in the event and the second time this outdoor season he has ran a sub-50 second time. Also competing were Kaneil Harrison and Ifeanyichukwu Otuonye, who finished third and fourth, respectively.

• On the track, K-State had several runner-up performances. Logan Smith and Marie Taylor both finished second in their respective 800s, while freshman Lucas Demott, in his second race this outdoor season, took second in the 1500 meter. Rounding out the runner-up efforts was Angela Hart in the 100H, who clocked in at 14.10 seconds, only .01 seconds off of first-place Shanice Andrews’ time, as well as Hart’s personal best time, of 14.09 seconds.

• In the pole vault, Kyle Wait took second, while Tommy Brady tied for sixth. Wait cleared the bar at 5.25m/17-02.75 before bowing out in three attempts at 5.40m/17-08.50. Winning the event was former NCAA Outdoor Champion and Kansas Jayhawk, Jordan Scott.

• In the hammer throw, Alex Roe took fifth, while Kyle Smith and Kale Mueller finished sixth and ninth, respectively. Most notably though were the performances of Nick Miller of Oklahoma State and Chris Cralle of the Shocker Track Club, and formerly of Sam Houston State. Miller and Cralle finished with a throws of 74.37m/244-00 and 74.29m/243-09, respectively, both besting the previous R.V. Christian Track Complex Facility Record of 72.09m/236-06 set by Chris Rohr in 2011. Miller’s facility record mark is currently the best mark in DI.

The Wildcats will now shift their focus to the Big 12 Championships, set to start next Friday, May 16, in Lubbock, Texas. It will be the last opportunity for K-State athletes to qualify for the NCAA West Preliminaries that will take place in the final week of May. For more information on all of today’s action, as well as full results, visit www.k-statesports.com.